General Motors Delta platform

Last updated
GM Delta platform
Chevrolet Cruze LT 1.8 - Frontansicht, 2. Juli 2011, Mettmann.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer General Motors
Production2002–present
Body and chassis
Class Compact (C)
Body style(s) 2-door coupe
2-door convertible
3-door hatchback
4-door sedan
4-door SUV
5-door hatchback
Chronology
Predecessor GM J platform
GM R platform
GM T platform
GM Z platform
SuccessorFor Opel & Vauxhall:
PSA EMP2 platform
For GM:
GM VSS-F

Delta was a General Motors compact front-wheel drive automobile and crossover SUV platform, originally developed by Opel Group. Delta was a successor to the Opel T platform; it also replaced J platform and the Z platform used by the Saturn S-Series. The platform debuted in the 2003 Saturn Ion. Vehicles of this platform generally carry the letter "A" in the fourth character of their VINs.

Contents

Delta uses an independent suspension in front and Twist beam type in the rear. The Ecotec engine is widely used, as are a 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual transmission.

Delta

Applications

Former vehicles based on this platform:

Delta II

Delta II was General Motors' global compact car platform, developed by Opel in Germany. It was the successor to the GM Delta platform. Internally it is simply known as a new Global Compact Vehicle Architecture or GCV.

The platform features a torsion beam (marketed as compound crank) rear suspension with optional Watt's link which improves vehicle handling; such configuration is used with the Opel Astra, Buick Verano, Cadillac ELR, Opel Cascada and higher trim-levels of the American-market Chevrolet Cruze.

This suspension is usually described as semi-independent, meaning that the two wheels can move relative to each other, but their motion is still somewhat inter-linked, to a greater extent than in a true independent rear suspension (IRS). This can mildly compromise the handling and ride quality of the vehicle. For this reason, some manufacturers have changed to different linkage designs. As an example, Volkswagen dropped the torsion beam in favour of a true IRS for the Volkswagen Golf Mk5, possibly in response to the Ford Focus' Control Blade rear suspension.

As noted, certain GM brands and models have continued to use the suspension setup, known variously as twist beam, torsion beam or compound crank suspension. This is at a cost saving of €100 per car compared to multi-link rear suspension. [1] The version used on the 2009-on Opel Astra and the 2011-2016 Buick Verano uses a Watts linkage at a cost of €20 to address the drawbacks and provide a competitive and cost effective rear suspension. [1] The Renault Mégane and Citroen C4 also have stayed with the twist beam. [2] The twist beam has been shown to suffer less from bush wear, than fully independent multi-link suspension, thus resulting in a virtually maintenance free rear suspension.

GM chose this compact vehicle architecture for its first Voltec application, the Chevrolet Volt. Production began in November 2010 with the first Chevrolet Volts delivered to retails customers in December 2010. [3]

Applications

Production vehicles based on Delta II platform:

D2XX/D2UX

General Motors introduced its new global platform named D2XX flexible platform in August 2012. The new platform was mainly engineered by GM's former German subsidiary Opel in Rüsselsheim. [7] According to GM the company invested US$220 million for the all new D2XX platform.[ citation needed ]

The platform was developed for compact vehicle architecture, replacing both Delta II and the midsize crossover GM Theta platform. [8]

Vehicles that use the new platform included:

GM-PATAC K

In 2015 Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), GM's joint development center with SAIC, revealed their own simplified variant of D2XX, known as the "GM-PATAC K" platform (rather than "K" so as to distinguish it from the former GM K platforms). [10] The following vehicles use this variant of the platform, none of which are sold in the United States:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel</span> German automotive brand, subsidiary of Stellantis

Opel Automobile GmbH, usually shortened to Opel, is a German automobile manufacturer which has been a subsidiary of Stellantis since 16 January 2021. It was owned by the American automaker General Motors from 1929 until 2017 and the PSA Group prior to its merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to form Stellantis in 2021. Most of the Opel lineup is marketed under the Vauxhall Motors brand in the United Kingdom since the 1980s. Some Opel vehicles were badge-engineered in Australia under the Holden brand until 2020, in North America and China under the Buick, Saturn, and Cadillac brands, and in South America under the Chevrolet brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet</span> American automobile division of General Motors

Chevrolet, colloquially referred to as Chevy, is an American automobile division of the manufacturer General Motors (GM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel Astra</span> Compact car

The Opel Astra is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) developed and produced by the German automaker Opel since 1991, currently at its sixth generation. It was first launched in September 1991 as a direct replacement to the Opel Kadett. As of 2022, the car slots between the smaller Corsa supermini and the larger Insignia large family car.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel Zafira</span> Multi-purpose vehicle

The Opel Zafira is a car manufactured and marketed across three generations between 1999 and 2019 by Opel. Based on the Opel Astra platform, it is developed to occupy the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Motors Kappa platform</span> Automobile platform by General Motors

Kappa was General Motors' subcompact rear-wheel drive automobile platform for roadster applications. The architecture debuted in the 2006 Pontiac Solstice and 2007 Saturn Sky, and ended production in 2009. These vehicles generally have a "M" in the fourth digit of their VIN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Motors Epsilon platform</span> Motor vehicle platform

Epsilon is General Motors' mid-size front-wheel drive automobile platform. The architecture was a multi-division project of GM North America, Opel and Saab, and debuted in the 2002 Opel Vectra and 2003 Saab 9-3. Since this platform falls squarely in the center of the worldwide automobile market, GM plans to produce a great many Epsilon vehicles with over a dozen variations. As of 2005, it was GM's highest volume worldwide platform. Even after the dissolution of the GM/Fiat partnership, both companies retain the rights to continue developing Epsilon-derived models.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SAIC-GM</span> Joint venture between General Motors and SAIC Motor

SAIC General Motors Corporation Limited is a joint venture between General Motors Company and SAIC Motor that manufactures and sells Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac brand automobiles in Mainland China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daewoo Lacetti</span> Compact car by GM Korea

The Daewoo Lacetti is a compact car manufactured and marketed globally by GM Korea since 2002. The first-generation Lacetti was available as a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon, styled by Pininfarina—and five-door hatchback styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The sedan and wagon were marketed as the Daewoo Nubira in some European markets and as the Suzuki Forenza in North America. The hatchback, was introduced in 2004 and marketed as Daewoo Lacetti5 in South Korea, Suzuki Reno in the United States. After the 2004 model year, it was marketed as Chevrolet Nubira and Lacetti in Europe, as the Chevrolet Optra in Canada, Latin America, Africa, Middle East, India, Japan and Southeast Asia, and as the Holden Viva in Australia and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GM Family 1 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The GM Family I is a straight-four piston engine that was developed by Opel, a former subsidiary of General Motors and now a subsidiary of PSA Group, to replace the Vauxhall OHV, Opel OHV and the smaller capacity Opel CIH engines for use on small to mid-range cars from Opel/Vauxhall. The engine first appeared in the Opel Kadett D in 1979, and shortly afterwards in its Vauxhall badged sister – the Vauxhall Astra Mk.1 in 1980. Despite this, the previous Opel OHV engine continued to be sold in entry level versions of the Opel Kadett/Astra and Corsa throughout the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GM Family 0 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Family 0 is a family of inline piston engines that was developed by Opel, at the time a subsidiary of General Motors, as a low-displacement engine for use on entry-level subcompact cars from Opel/Vauxhall.

General Motors New Zealand Limited, is a subsidiary of General Motors that distributes GM' motor vehicles, engines, components and parts in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Volt</span> Range extended electric automobile

The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid car manufactured by General Motors, also marketed in rebadged variants as the Holden Volt in Australia and New Zealand and the Buick Velite 5 in China, and with a different fascia as the Vauxhall Ampera in the United Kingdom and as the Opel Ampera in the remainder of Europe. Volt production ended in February 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buick Excelle</span> Motor vehicle

The Buick Excelle is the common name for the subcompact cars marketed by Shanghai General Motors Company Limited under GM's Buick brand. It is classified as a compact in China, but by international standards it is a subcompact car.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buick Excelle GT</span> Chinese compact car

The Buick Excelle GT is the name for the compact car manufactured by SAIC-GM under GM's Buick brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buick Verano</span> Motor vehicle

The Buick Verano is a compact car manufactured by SAIC-GM for the GM's Buick brand since 2010. It debuted at the North American International Auto Show on January 10, 2011, during a preview of Buick's then upcoming 2012 model. It is the first compact marketed by Buick in the United States since the 1998 Buick Skylark. Verano is Spanish for summer.

MyLink a.k.a. Intellilink is a telematics system/infotainment system offered by General Motors in their vehicles. The system was debuted in 2011 in the then-new Chevrolet Volt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel Cascada</span> Motor vehicle

The Opel Cascada is a four-passenger fabric-roof convertible, manufactured and marketed by Opel across a single generation for model years 2013-2019, prioritizing year-round touring comfort over sportiness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel Manufacturing Poland</span> Automobile factory in Poland

Opel Manufacturing Poland Sp. z o.o. is an automobile manufacturer in Poland. It assembles light commercial vehicles in a factory in Gliwice and builds engines in Tychy. Opel Manufacturing Poland is a subsidiary of Opel Automobile GmbH in Rüsselsheim, Germany which in turn is a subsidiary of Stellantis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Motors T platform (FWD)</span> Motor vehicle platform

General Motors reused the T-body designation, beginning in 1979 with the front-wheel drive Opel Kadett D and the Vauxhall Astra Mk I. This was part of a global strategy by GM to introduce a new front-wheel drive architecture for its sub-compact models, and would be further developed into the J-body platform which would cover the compact size segment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Adams (designer)</span> English car designer

Mark Adams is an English car designer. He is current senior car designer at Opel Automobile and has worked as for brands including Cadillac, Buick and Opel.

References

  1. 1 2 Richard Aucock (January 22, 2010). "Astra suspension by Automotive Engineer". Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  2. Simon Bickerstaffe (December 1, 2010). "Vehicle dynamics & chassis: A new leaf". Archived from the original on November 3, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  3. "NEW 2011 Chevy Volt - Gearhart Chevrolet Delivers First Volt in America". December 16, 2010.
  4. "Paris debut for new Chevrolet Cruze sedan - paultan.org". Paul Tan's Automotive News. 2008-07-10. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  5. "GM to produce Cadillac Converj with Volt's plug-in technology" Archived 2013-10-12 at the Wayback Machine (Automotive Week) January 11, 2010
  6. "GM Will Produce Volt-Based Cadillac Converj Plug-in Concept" (Motor Trend) January 11, 2010
  7. https://www.cnbc.com/id/101041918
  8. "GM's D2XX Platform Detailed". 28 August 2012.
  9. "2016 Chevrolet Volt Unveiled: More range, passenger room (+VIDEO)". 12 January 2015.
  10. "New Details About All-New Chevrolet Monza Sedan Emerge". GM Authority. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-17.